Sho and Kyoko's relationship

[Secret]

I think this warrants its own thread

I know that a lot of people, even people who want Ren and Kyoko to get together in the end, dislike the idea of Sho and Kyoko having sibling-like feelings for each other. However, that they DO, especially on Sho's part (mostly on Sho's part, actually), keeps popping up in my mind. I don't mind the idea but even if I did I wouldn't be able to help thinking it, because...

Sho NEVER shows any physical desire for Kyoko (and Ren DOES, so it's not just a matter of showing desire not being the author's style), even after it started to look like he had realized that Kyoko was important to him. The way he reacts is just so OFF, to me, for a lover. I'd actually think better of Sho if he love Kyoko as a sister, not because of anything to do with Ren, but because it would make his treatment of her in the past much less ugly...because you DO take advantage of family, though not to that extent, most likely.

But...can anyone think of a time when Sho acts really boyfriend-like, in a way that can't be construed as brotherly? For example, such as when Ren folds his arms and turns around to go back to the hotel, lest he molest Kyoko on the spot (when they are at the river in 92/93), or when he is about to kiss her in 95/96, or when he wonders what he would have done, had he and Kyoko been alone when he gave her the rose. (I still need to see the official translation on that one, I'm a bit iffy on it as it is.)

I don't mind if Sho is really in love with Kyoko either, so if there is evidence for it that I've just missed, I'd like to see it clearly.

[MelfinaRose]

Hmms, I'm not sure where I stand on this one. I think he might have some small feelings of love towards Kyoko. Cause if he just loved her like a sister, would he get so jelious when he thought of Ren and Kyoko acting lovey dovey? Also what makes me lean this way, is when I read his monologue in chapter 62: "When I become the no.1 guy in showbiz, I will have the no.1 girl in showbiz as my girlfriend! I'll have the best girl as my girlfriend. I wouldn't be distracted by Kyoko." Obviously at this point he had another image of Ren and Kyoko acting like a couple which pops in his head, because he then screams: "What do you mean you love her?! You have the best girl as your girlfriend! I'll kill you!!" XD
But I dunno, that's how I interpreted it.

Personally how I feel, is that he's more interested in Kyoko now because Ren is. But even if he didn't have any romantic feelings for Kyoko, he's very possessive of her, still thinking that she is his. And with Ren in the picture, Sho feels like he needs to compete and make sure that Kyoko stays his.

[Secret]

See, that's the thing...I think that his jealousy is not because he's in love with Kyoko, but because it's REN who wants her...and he wants to beat him at EVERYTHING. If Ren cant' win Kyoko because Sho fills too much of her heart (even because of hatred) that is a 'win', for him. I think Sho loves Kyoko, but is not in love with her. I feel possessive of MY family...I often found myself thinking of my baby sis as MINE when she started dating the man who later became her husband.

And Sho seems altogether too content to leave Kyoko in Ren's hands for a man who regards her as a lover. He feels like he's won already, basically, so he thinks it doesn't matter...but if he were in love with her, it seems weird that he'd take the chance. It doesn't seem to me that REN would take that chance...I dunno. I just can't feel it. No matter how I look at it, Sho doesn't act like a man in love. He bickers with her like a brother, teases and insults her like a brother, and never looks at her with desire. I dunno. I don't have any objection to him loving her, I just can't SEE it.

[MelfinaRose]

Yea, I see what you mean. Hmms...the more that I look at it, it does seem like that's the case.

[Secret]

By shoujo conventions, Sho is probably intended to really be in love with her...but if he IS, I hope the author will develop Sho's feelings more clearly, because as things are, I find the idea of Sho trying to get romantic with Kyoko really creepy, because there has been NO build-up to it. He's never hugged her or put an arm around her, and he's looked at her with amazement, but never with clear desire, so I'd need to see more of those feelings from Sho before it could see at all palatable for him to, say, try to kiss her or something.